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Sharing environmental news, technology updates about our stormwater filters, and ways to prevent ocean pollution.
Filtering by Tag: storm drain filters
The City of Coral Gables is starting to use storm drain markers with QR codes!
The web app associated with the QR codes provides community members with information about stormwater pollution, and an easy way to upload a photo and details about what they're seeing in front of storm drains.
The data helps the city's Public Works department to quantify pollution prevention efforts and improve operations.
In the City of Hallandale Beach, community members are using QR codes on the storm drain markers to report how the SOP Technologies stormwater filters are keeping debris out of stormwater systems and local waterways. This is part of the SOP Technologies Community Stormwater Watch Program.
The community report below shows leaves (which contribute to nutrient pollution such as phosphorus and nitrogen) kept out of the drain by the stormwater filter. The city's Public Works Department collects the leaves on the road with their street sweeping maintenance.
The city's use of these technologies were first reported last month by Louis Aguirre from WPLG Local 10 News.
Stormwater Filters are a Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) recommended by the EPA for protecting waterways from stormwater runoff. The storm drain markers with QR codes also help cities with the NPDES requirements for Public Education and Outreach.
Videos taken yesterday (below) show pollution that Monroe County and the City of Key West are PREVENTING from entering storm drains and discharging to local waterways.
Items captured include:
Cigarette butts
Leaves and grass clippings (these contribute to nutrient pollution such as phosphorus and nitrogen)
Plastic bottles
Metal cans
Paper
Rubber and other plastics
It also costs Public Works departments less money to sweep/collect organic matter (nutrients) and litter when it is on the street, when compared to removing it from catch basins, canals or the ocean.
Using stormwater filters/screens also prevents the decomposition or leeching of debris in stormwater catch basins and pipes.
As cities struggle to address the pollution, flooding and high costs related to stormwater pollution, new science and technologies continue to provide answers to a variety of challenges.
SOP Technologies is on a mission to Stop Ocean Pollution with our environmental technologies, and here are some recent stories about pollution issues and solutions from around the world:
Source: Seattle Times
"The sweet seep of autumn rain is bringing coho salmon back home to their natal streams all over the Puget Sound basin — where too often they encounter a bitter truth: pollution in a shocking 40 percent of their home range so bad it can inflict a swift death.
The culprit is stormwater, and it is causing death rates so high, some populations of wild coho are at risk of local extinction, researchers found." Full story: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/stormwater-pollution-in-puget-sound-streams-killing-coho-before-they-can-spawn/
Source: CBS News
Researchers find, collect and remove pollution from Norway's Lofoten Islands. Read the full article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/microplastics-arctic-circle-ocean-pollution-plastic-waste-around-the-world/
Source: The Guardian
"Plastic pollution, overfishing, global warming and increased acidification from burning fossil fuels means oceans are increasingly hostile to marine life" Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/23/ocean-acidification-deadly-threat-to-marine-life-finds-eight-year-study
Source: Fox 46
In Charlotte, NC, dirt and debris clogged the storm drains, leading to costly flooding. "Overwhelming the city storm water system, dirt and debris still scatters the parking lot at Cedar Hill. Employees hope that the flood was an isolated incident." Full story: http://www.fox46charlotte.com/news/local-news/third-ward-parking-lot-floods-after-storm-drain-backs-up
Source: Times of India
Bengaluru India is aiming to fix stormwater infrastructure in order to prevent floods. "Following the recent flooding and fatalities caused by incessant rain in the city, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has identified 96 localities that are prone to inundation during monsoon and intends to fix their problems before the next season." Full story: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/96-flood-prone-areas-identified-time-for-bbmp-to-fix-the-mess/articleshow/61213616.cms
Source: Sky News
"A new type of plastic bottle has sparked hope in the battle against ocean pollution. The detergent container is made from 50% plastic collected from the ocean, while the other 50% is also recycled. Eight tonnes of plastic was collected from Rio de Janeiro's bay as part of the clean-up before the 2016 Olympics and this material has been used for Ecover's washing-up liquid bottle." Full Story: http://news.sky.com/story/bottle-made-from-50-ocean-plastic-hits-shelves-11097513
SOP Technologies: Patented storm drain filters
Navigate our website to see how SOP Technologies is addressing issues relating to floods, pollution and high costs of stormwater maintenance. Storm drain filters located at the street prevent pollution from reaching the ocean. Also, since pollution doesn't enter stormwater pipes, plastics and other items don't clog or cause flooding issues. Cities are also using these patented devices to reduce their maintenance costs, because it costs less to clean debris at the street when compared to cleaning inside stormwater pipes. Learn more at https://soptechint.com/
